Kingston Symphony
The Kingston Symphony is a professional orchestra founded in 1953 that is made up of approximately 50 musicians. Its mission is to bring the world's greatest music to the stage. Whether it is performing masterworks by composers such as Beethoven and Tchaikovsky or premiering new music by Canada’s leading composers, the Kingston Symphony is committed to enriching the culture of our community through musical excellence.
Music Director
Evan Mitchell
Evan Mitchell is one of Canada’s most innovative and imaginative conductors, an artist equally at home conducting symphonic masterworks, opera, contemporary music, and films live in concert. He has been consistently acclaimed for curating thoughtful, incisive, and affecting musical performances.
Evan’s style of leadership is based on a combination of personal sincerity and the dogged pursuit of collegial music-making—an approach which he learned from his parents. In performance, Evan prizes commitment, risk-taking, drive, and an unwavering effort to produce the widest possible spectrum of sound colours. His over-arching goal is to provoke a sustained emotional response in listeners.
Evan began his professional musical life at age 16 with drumset lessons. This experience fostered a deep-rooted sense of rhythm and pulse that he focuses on during his rehearsal process. While he loves all the instruments of the orchestra, he particularly adores the marimba, an instrument whose expressive potential is nearly limitless.
Meet the Musicians
Orchestra Musicians
Our players are actively engaged not only in performing with the Kingston Symphony, but also in teaching privately, at Queen’s University as well as in elementary and high schools throughout our region.
Strings
Violin • Viola • Cello • Bass
Katya Poplyansky
Violin
Concertmaster
(In memory of Ross & Jean Beers)
Lyssa Pelton
Violin
Acting Assistant Concertmaster
Julia McFarlane
Violin
Principal Second Violin
(Taj and Ameena Jaffer Chair)
Gisèle Dalbec-Szczesniak
Violin
Concertmaster Emeritus
(In Memory of Andy Geracimo)
Sally Siyeon Ahn
Violin
Andrew Dicker
Violin
Lisa Draper
Violin
Clare Fagan
Violin
Venetia Gauthier
Violin
Danielle Lennon
Violin
Kelly Purpura
Violin
Peter Wowk
Violin
Gemma Donn
Violin
(Auditioned substitute player)
Kiri-Christina Fill
Violin
(Auditioned substitute player)
Shakoor Henson
Violin
(Auditioned substitute player)
Veda Hingert-McDonald
Violin
(Auditioned substitute player)
Melanie Li
Violin
(Auditioned substitute player)
Toni Li
Violin
(Auditioned substitute player)
Shaina McPhee
Violin
(Auditioned substitute player)
Clara Moellman
Violin
(Auditioned substitute player)
Iana Urazova
Violin
(Auditioned substitute player)
Kirsten Waymann
Violin
(Extra player)
Grace Kyungrok Moon
Viola
Principal
(Joy of Music Chair)
Eileen Beaudette
Viola
Principal Emeritus
Andrew Farmer
Viola
Rachel Stewart
Viola
Suzanne Fegan
Viola
(Auditioned substitute player)
Troy Stephenson
Viola
(Extra player)
Cello section named in memory of Captain Matt Dawe, KIA Afghanistan 4 July 2007
Jill Vitols
Cello
Acting Principal
Charles Fung
Cello
Jeff Hamacher
Cello
(In memory of Hans Westenberg)
Don McLean
Cello
Massimo Amodio
Cello
(Auditioned substitute player)
Tricia Balmer
Cello
(Auditioned substitute player)
William Smyth
Cello
(Auditioned substitute player)
Liz Tremblay
Cello
(Auditioned substitute player)
Eric Lee
Bass
Principal
Reuven Rothman
Bass
(Extra player)
Patrick McPhail
Bass
(Extra player)
Cynthia Woods
Bass
(Extra player)
Woodwinds
Amelia Lyon
Flute
Principal
(In memory of Russell Lyon)
Rachel Szabo
Flute (and piccolo)
Graham McVeety
Flute (and piccolo)
(Auditioned substitute player)
Melissa Scott
Oboe
Principal
(Charles Simonds Chair)
Julie Paul
Oboe (and English Horn)
Chieh-Ying Lu
Oboe
(Extra player)
Carina Canonico
Clarinet
Principal
(Absent in 2026-2027 season)
David Gazaille
Clarinet
Acting Principal
Ben Glossop
Bassoon
Principal
Katie Legere
Bassoon
Brass
Olivier Brisson
Horn
Principal
Cory Van Allen
Horn
Emily Cavers
Horn
Christina Michie
Horn
Brian Roberts
Trumpet
Principal
Mike Verner
Trumpet
Janet MacRae
Trumpet
(Extra player)
Dan Tremblay
Trumpet
(Extra player)
Ben Perrier
Trombone
Principal
(Absent in 2026-2027 season)
Benjamin Storm
Trombone
Acting Principal
Susan Dustan
Trombone
Luke Roussy
Bass Trombone
Collins Saunders
Trombone
(Extra player)
Maxime Lepage
Tuba
Principal
(In memory of Diane Coates-Milne)
Percussion
Timpani • Percussion
Andrew Harris
Timpani/Percussion
Principal
(Absent in 2026-2027 season)
David Therrien Brongo
Timpani/Percussion
Acting Principal
(In memory of Janet Ferguson-Cook)
Brydone Charlton
Percussion
(Extra player)
Adam Falconi
Percussion
(Extra player)
Nate Mears
Percussion
(Extra player)
Harp - Keyboard
Angela Schwarzkopf
Harp
(Extra player)
Clare Marion
Piano/Celeste
Chair named in memory of Michael Davies
(Extra player)
